VIII. MR. FOX IS "OUTDONE" BY MR. BUZZARD

"EF I don't run inter no mistakes," remarked Uncle Remus, as the
little boy came tripping in to see him after supper, "Mr. Tukkey
Buzzard wuz gyardin' de holler whar Brer Rabbit went in at, en
w'ich he come out un."

"'Den I'm des in time fer ter wake im up, sez Brer Fox, sezee. En
wid dat he fling off his coat, en spit in his han's, en grab de axe.
Den he draw back en come down on de tree-pow! En eve'y time he
come down wid de axe-pow!-Mr. Buzzard, he step high, he did, en
holler out:

"En Mr. Buzzard, he come steppin' up, he did, same ez ef he wer
treddin' on kurkle-burs, en he stick his head in de hole; en no
sooner did he done dat dan Brer Fox grab 'im. Mr. Buzzard flap his
wings, en scramble 'roun' right smartually, he did, but 'twant no
use. Brer Fox had de 'vantage er de grip, he did, en he hilt 'im right
down ter de groun'. Den Mr. Buzzard squall out, sezee:

"Don't you pester longer Brer Rabbit, honey, en don't you fret 'bout
'im. You'll year whar he went en how he come out. Dish yer cole
snap rastles wid my bones, now, continued the old man, putting on
his hat and picking up his walking-stick. "Hit rastles wid me
monstus, en I gotter rack 'roun' en see if I kin run up agin some
Chris'mus leavin's."